Trapezoidal stabilizers for inner spring units

ABSTRACT

Wire elements of generally trapezoidal shape having a variety of spring members in the non-parallel arms of the trapezoids are disclosed. The spring members are incorporated between the upper and lower edges of inner spring box springs, mattresses and the like to provide a wide variety of support to the edges. The spring members, upon the application of pressure flex inwardly or axially, permitting close spacing of individual trapezoidal elements.

United States Patent 1 Kline et al.

[ June 12, 1973 TRAPEZOIDAL STABILIZERS FOR INNER SPRING UNITS [75] Inventors: John C. Kline, Merrick; Albert F. Kronman, Locust Valley, both of [73] Assignee; Eclipse Sleep Products, Inc.,

Brooklyn, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Mar. 5, 1972 21 Appl. No: 240,579

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 1,228, Jan. 7, 1970.

[52] U.S. Cl. 5/260, 5/256 [51] Int. Cl. A47c 23/00 [58] Field of Search 5/260, 261

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,093,840 6/1963 Martin 5/260 3,206,759 9/1965 Kline 5/260 3,391,412 7/1968 Bronstein et al 5/260 3,121,883 2/1964 Kline 5/261 3,353,195 11/1967 Kline 1 5/261 3,638,254 2/1972 Falkenau 5/260 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,095,330 12/1967 Great Britain 5/260 870,197 6/1961 Great Britain 4. 5/261 Primary ExaminerJames T. McCall Assistant ExaminerDarrell Marquette Attorney-Albert F. Kronman [57] ABSTRACT Wire elements of generally trapezoidal shape having a variety of spring members in the non-parallel arms of the trapezoids are disclosed. The spring members are incorporated between the upper and lower edges of inner spring box springs, mattresses and the like to provide a wide variety of support to the edges. The spring members, upon the application of pressure flex in wardly or axially, permitting close spacing of individual trapezoidal elements.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUM em 3737, 927

sum 1 m 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1 it will be seen that the inner Txs application is a division of an application for pa- 5 spring mattress consists of a series of upstanding tent Ser. No. 1,228, filed Jan. 7, I970.

Box springs, inner spring mattresses, cushions and the like, have been made with edge stabilizing members for many years. The stabilizers generally consist of wire supports which are secured to the upper and lower edges of the box springs, mattresses etc., for the purpose of stiffening the edges of these articles to resist the application of pressure during use. By means of these stabilizers, persons sitting on the edge of a mattress or box spring'are not as likely to break the outer most row of springs'and thereby deform the square corner of the mattress or bed spring. In addition, persons sleeping on a mattress having edge supports are supported right up to the edge of the mattress in a manner not possible by the use of the normal number of coil springs available adjacent the edges thereof.

However, prior devices have been in the form of hexagonal, diamond, S, or other shapes which deflect in a manner making it necessary to substantially space the elements .from each other and thereby reduce the amount of support available along the edges of the mattresses and box springs.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide edge supports or stabilizers for inner spring units which can be closely spaced around the periphery of a box spring or inner spring mattress. Various types of spring arrangements are provided within the units so that a wide variety of spring rates can be selected depending upon the specific use of the cushioning device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Stabilizers for inner spring units made in accordance with the present invention consist of generally trapezoidal shaped wire elements which can be secured vertically across the upper and lower edges of inner spring box springs, mattresses, cushions and the like. The trapezoidal elements are provided with spring members in the non-parallel arms thereof to yieldably resist pressure imposed upon the edges of the box springs, mattresses or cushions. Numerous spring structures are disclosed for the purpose of providing a wide variety of spring action suitable for specific types of inner springs, box springs, mattresses, cushions and the like.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof corresponding elements have been given identical reference numerals, in which drawings:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS coiled spring members 21 which are secured vertically and horizontally together to form a supporting unit, The support wires are indicated at 22 and are well known in the art. An upper and lower wire frame 23, 24, is carried around the periphery of the springs 21 to form the edge of the inner spring member. In order to stiffen the inner spring member at its periphery wire border stabilizers 25 are attached between the upper and lower wires 23, 24, as by the helical springs 26 shown in FIG. 2.

The border stabilizers, according to the present invention are generally trapezoidal in shape and are disposed in side by side, but alternating relationship with respect to each other along the edge of the inner spring unit as illustrated in FIGS. 2-5. The parallel portions of the stabilizers 27, 28, are attached to the upper and lower edge wires 23, 24. As pressure is applied to the top of the inner spring member 20, the border stabilizers are compressed. In addition, upon the removal of pressure, the border stabilizers must return to their original condition to maintain the usefulness and appearance of the inner spring member.

By using a substantially trapezoidal shape for the border stabilizer, the stabilizers can be secured in place in relatively close relationship to one another as shown in the drawings. On the other hand, as the stabilizers are compressed during use, the non-parallel sides of the stabilizers must flex. If the non-parallel sides bow outwardly in the direction of adjacent stabilizers, the inner spring unit will be noisy and ticking or other covering material may be pinched between adjacent stabilizers. Accordingly, stabilizers disclosed herein are formed so that the non-parallel sides will flex inwardly or axially upon compression, as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 employs helical springs 37 in the non-parallel arms of the trapezoidal stabilizers. Under the influence of pressure on the edge of the inner spring member, the coil springs will compress axially and return to their original condition when the pressure is released.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 employs wave springs 38 in the non-parallel arms of the trapezoidal stabilizer and has the advantage of providing a very flat profile for the stabilizer which is particularly useful in those structures where the ticking is close adjacent to the box spring member along the side walls thereof. It will be observed that upon compression the wave springs 38 will move axially and not occupy any more space in the structure than when they are free of load.

Referring to FIG. 4 it will be seen that the wire 39 of which the trapezoidal stabilizers are formed has been flattened at 40 in each of the non-parallel arms and inwardly coiled to form spring elements 41. The spring elements 41 absorb any pressure applied to the edge of the box spring member by moving toward each other and away from adjacent stabilizing elements.

In FIG. 5 there is shown a somewhat trapezoidal shaped stabilizer in which the wave spring members 42 are criss-crossed between the parallel sides of the trapezoidal stabilizer. The criss-crossing action restricts the outward motion of the stabilizer either in the direction directions toward the outer periphery of the stabilizerf However, the length of the loops 43 is such that they cannot interfere with adjacent stabilizing members. When pressure is removed from this stabilizer, the upward motion of the stabilizer is restrained by means of the criss-cross construction indicated at 44.

The various stabilizers described above, are capable of providing a variety of degrees of support and are therefore applicable to many types of cushions, mattresses, box springs, etc., depending upon the firmness which is desired for each particular article. In addition, they all have the ability to be placed in close relationship with adjacent stabilizers to give substantially uninterrupted support around the complete periphery of an inner spring member. Because the stabilizers consist of discreet units, they can be shipped and assembled with ease and can be formed on relatively simple machines.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A stabilizer for inner spring units comprising a wire body portion of generally trapezoidal shape having opposed parallel sides of unequal length and convergent non-parallel sides interconnecting the ends of said parallel sides and at least one axially compressible coil spring structure incorporated within each of the nonparallel sides between the ends of said sides and integral therewith, whereby adjacent stabilizers can be a] ternately reversed and placed in close side by side relationship.

2. A stabilizer for inner spring units comprising a wire body portion of generally trapezoidal shape having opposed parallel sides of unequal length and convergent non-parallel sides interconnecting the ends of said parallel sides and at least one wave spring structure incorporated within each of the non-parallel sidesbetween the ends of said sides and integral therewith and com pressible along the axes of said non-parallel sides, whereby adjacent stabilizers can be alternately reversed and placed in close side by side relationship.

3. A stabilizer for inner spring units comprising a wire body portion of generally trapezoidal shape having opposed parallel sides of unequal length and inwardly bowed non-parallel sides crossed intermediate their lengths interconnecting the ends of said parallel sides and at least one inwardly yielding spring structure incorporated within each of the non-parallel sides between the ends of said sides and integral therewith, whereby adjacent stabilizers can be alternately reversed and placed in closeside by side relationship.

4. A device according to claim 2 in which the nonparallel sides are inwardly bowed. 

1. A stabilizer for inner spring units comprising a wire body portion of generally trapezoidal shape having opposed parallel sides of unequal length and convergent non-parallel sides interconnecting the ends of said parallel sides and at least one axially compressible coil spring structure incorporated within each of the non-parallel sides between the ends of said sides and integral therewith, whereby adjacent stabilizers can be alternately reversed and placed in close side by side relationship.
 2. A stabilizer for inner spring units comprising a wire body portion of generally trapezoidal shape having opposed parallel sides of unequal length and convergent non-parallel sides interconnecting the ends of said parallel sides and at least one wave spring structure incorporated within each of the non-parallel sides between the ends of said sides and integral therewith and compressible along the axes of said non-parallel sides, whereby adjacent stabilizers can be alternately reversed and placed in close side by side relationship.
 3. A stabilizer for inner spring units comprising a wire body portion of generally trapezoidal shape having opposed parallel sides of unequal length and inwardly bowed non-parallel sides crossed intermediate their lengths interconnecting the ends of said parallel sides and at least one inwardly yielding spring structure incorporated within each of the non-parallel sides between the ends of said sides and integral therewith, whereby adjacent stabilizers can be alternately reversed and placed in close side by side relationship.
 4. A device according to claim 2 in which the non-parallel sides are inwardly bowed. 